Dear Eric,
Thank you for listening to me the other night when I needed to talk.  I love your positive outlook on life and the amusing way you can look at things.  Thanks for all the big hugs you give me everyday and for working so hard so I can stay home with our cute kids.  I love the way you dance when you're being silly with Aspen and Oakley, and when you sing to them.
I'm excited for our date tonight so we can just be together, even if we are just buying trees after dinner.  I'm excited to be able to stay up late late late once we get home (like we used to) doing whatever because the kids will be sleeping over at your parents' house.  Oh and you look super hot in this photo.  Do you think you could get your hair cut like this again?  I love you!
Chels

Last week I watched my friend Josie's little girl, Laura.  Laura is a beautiful little thing and it was so fun having her over.  The kids really enjoyed every minute they got to play with her, and so did I. 

By the end of the day Oakley was talking about Lorla this and Lorla that.  In his own way of course :) 

Anyway that afternoon Eric came home from work a little early to hang out with the kids and I before he went to watch the BYU/BSU game downtown.  We were all upstairs, the kids playing with Eric in our room, Laura wandering about.  I was putting away some laundry and thinking to myself how blessed I am.  My beautiful kids playing with their wonderful dad, a cooler September evening, and Laura wandering around our cozy home feeling comfortable to peek into our bedrooms.  

I love moments like that :)

1. Aspen likes to make a mess, no matter how well I try to make projects mess-free. I know being messy is good for kids, but sometimes it's just not good for my kitchen.

2. Last month I upgraded to 1000 texts and I feel liberated! Especially being so far from my family, this is w.o.n.d.e.r.f.u.l. and amazingly awesome.

3. Been doing cross-fit and it's humbling. And I love it!

4. Pears take for-ever to can!! Wish they weren't so tasty.....

5. Eric's teaching Aspen to ride her bike and I love seeing how excited they both get when she's making progress.

6. Oakley's talking so much more lately! My favorite is that he calls Aspen "wo-wo" for Roo. When it's his nap time I'll let Aspen play computer games for a bit while we go upstairs and read, sing songs, and tickle fight while he lays in bed. I always look forward to that.